The Organic View

Imagine if you are pregnant and can't eat the crackers that are available because of all of the chemicals that are in them. This was exactly the case with Nicole Bernard Dawes, President and CEO of Late July Organic Snacks. She will be my guest today to talk about what it was like to take the steps that she did to create America's favorite organic snack cracker!

Mr. Donald Trump is known for being a brilliant businessman, author, producer and connoisseur of the finer things in life. He clearly is someone who demands excellence. It is no surprise that recently, the Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago announced that they will now be the first luxury hotel in North America to offer a certified organic, in-room dining menu! This first time organic certification was issued in accordance to the organic standards by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) which is an internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity. OTCO provides a system that combines strict production standards, on-site inspections, and legally binding contracts to protect the producers and buyers of organic products. Oregon Tilth is also a nonprofit research and education membership organization, dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. This is major breakthrough for the organic industry! For the first time in the North American hotel industry, the downtown Chicago luxury hotel will provide discerning guests with innovative meal options that utilize the freshest ingredients available, sourced daily from local and sustainable farmers. For world travelers such as myself, this is extremely important because now I can enjoy my dining experience knowing that the food is certified organic. When you have chemical sensitivities, it is impossible to find restaurants that offer organic food. This is clearly sending a message to the hotel industry that the bar has been set. Organic cuisine is here to stay! On this segment of The Organic View, I have the pleasure of speaking to Executive Chef Frank Brunacci and the Director of Operations, Philipp Posch of Trump International Hotel & Tower. These gentlemen have been instrumental in the facilitation of this unique certification. They will explain why this certification is so important and the extremes involved with obtaining such a certification. Stay tuned!

Fall is often a time when people begin to relax. Summer is over and the weather is no longer suitable for beach attire. Long sleeves and pants conveniently cover up our bodies as we begin to move at a slower pace. This is the time of the year when kids are going back to school and parents begin to juggle an even more hectic schedule. It is just too easy to slip into old habits which often lead to putting the pounds on. If you are a new mother or father, for that matter, it is especially difficult to fit some kind of routine into your schedule. On this segment of The Organic View, Kristin Steede, from The Biggest Loser, Season 7, will be on to talk about the struggles she faces as a new mother and the difficulty she has incorporating exercise into her daily routine. Also on the show, Lisa Welko, President of Ellipse Fitness will talk about the innovative techniques she has developed to help people keep in shape without spending all day in the gym. Stay tuned!

Although people may love their pets they seldom recognize patterns of behavior that are associated with the elements and often shrug it off, assuming that it is a plea for food or affection. Animal behavior is not even remotely considered as being a valid indicator when it comes to inclement weather, much less natural disasters. Entomologists have shown that bees are very sensitive to barometric pressure changes. Ornithologists have also documented the change in flight patterns of birds due to changing weather conditions. It is also common knowledge that birds will fly south for the winter when cold weather is coming. Scientific research has been very helpful for predicting severe inclement weather, but still has a long way to go. For people that understand geography, when they see that the ocean is receding, they know to flee immediately for higher ground. According to experts, a receding ocean is a valid indicator but can only give a 5 minute lead time for evacuation. This is simply not enough time, especially when it is a natural disaster. In 2004, when the Tsunami hit, over a quarter of a million people perished. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. This was clearly one of the worst natural disasters in our lifetime. According to rangers and wildlife trackers, flamingos fled to safer forests several hours beforehand. Elephants broke their chains and stampeded. As buffalos fled to higher ground, their shepherds followed, saving them as well. Animals everywhere could not be stopped. Oddly enough, the animals survived! Throughout the ages, animals have always given us early warning signs about changes in the earth. In this segment of The Organic View, Ms. Lassiter will explain the correlation between the animal kingdom and our world in order to reconnect with nature as changes unfold.

In the 1970's there was a big push for everyone to stop using glass. Glass was bad! Plastic was the new golden child! Everyone all over the world was demanding plastic. Even in the supermarket, the battle continued with the option of ?paper or plastic? bags. The plastics industry took over like an invasive weed. According to the Glass Packaging institute, glass bottles and jars are 100 % pure, made of sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass. They are endlessly recyclable! This makes glass containers an idea choice for you and our planet. Glass is the ideal package for organic foods and beverages as it does not leach the chemical from the plastic container into the product. The glass can also be reused and recycled infinitely. Consumers who recycle glass bottles and jars make a significant impact in the amount of waste they no longer contribute to landfills when using plastic. There is also big energy savings when recovered glass is used to make new bottles. The glass container industry in the U.S. set a goal to use 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacturing of new glass bottles and jars by the end of 2013, which will make glass bottles and jars even more sustainable! In this segment of The Organic View, I will interview Mr. Joseph J. Cattaneo, President of the Glass Packaging Institute. He will discuss the resurgence in popularity in the organic industry, the GPI sponsored blog, ?Keep It Organic ?, how to properly recycle glass, Recycle Glass Week, and the health benefits of choosing products with a glass bottle or jar as opposed to plastic. Stay tuned!

It is that time of the year when children and parents are facing yet another new school year. With this new school year comes a whole slew of new challenges that are accompanied by stress. For some it may be a whole new school along with new friends and teachers. Others may be dealing with a bullying situation. New schools often mean dramatic changes in work schedules as conflicts occur with school schedules. Then there are the day to day stresses of time management, educational hurdles, peer pressure, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Now more than ever, it is important to develop your own personal routine in order to combat stress. On today's segment of The Organic View, Life Pro Coach, Lydia Proschinger will be my guest to talk about how parents can cope with these stresses as well as help their children in order to simplify their lives. Now more than ever, people need to deal with these issues before it makes a negative impact on their health. Lydia is an expert at energy management and her concepts are very effective, even under the most stressful conditions. Stay tuned!

For dog owners, Biobags have become a household name. Cleaning up after your dog is not only part of your responsibility as a pet owner but is the law. Many people had always felt that by using the plastic shopping bags from the supermarkets, they were simply adding to the landfills. When you think about how many times you have to walk your dog and multiply that by how many dog owners there are just in your own town, the numbers do add up. When I first discovered Biobags, I was at a trade show. Someone approached me asking me if I had a dog and wanted to try a certified biodegradable and compostable bag. I was thrilled to find out that such bags existed! To boot, they even made cat pan liners, compost bin liners as well as a whole slew of biodegradable products. Amazing! After spending some time learning about the company and also looking at the industry as a whole, I soon learned that this technology had taken years to develop. Biobag was in fact, the head of the pack. It wasn't because they held so many patents. It was because Biobag went the distance. Their bags are actually tested after they are produce to verify that they are in fact, certified biodegradable and compostable. This was clearly a company that not only was environmentally responsible but really lives up to its motto of changing the earth, one bag at a time! On this segment of The Organic View, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dave Williams, President of Biogroup USA. This company not only has taken the time to manufacture one of the most important products to help reduce our landfills but has actually helped to educate the public as they work to keep our world a greener place! Stay tuned!

As most home owners have discovered, beautiful plants may sometimes come with a myriad of problems. Such is the case for people who thought bamboo would make an excellent addition to their gardens, only to find out that it basically took over everything. In this segment of The Organic View, I will interview John Peter Thompson, an expert on invasive species. Today we will discuss the choices we make about our land as well as its inhabitants and the impact of those choices. There are often unintended consequences that result from trying to ?do the right thing? when it comes to the environment as well as what our options really are. Is there such a thing as a ?bad? or ?good? plant and if so, how do we find out? John Peter Thompson is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant on sustainability issues including invasive species, sustainability, ecosystem services and environmental justice as well as traditional landscape solutions. Mr. Thompson just returned from Alaska where he has a contract to in part establish a dialogue between private interests and public agencies on issues surrounding ornamental horticulture, gardeners, producers and invasive species. In addition to Alaska, Mr. Thompson is working on a sustainable agriculture production project with the Africa Trade Office of Maryland and coffee growers in Cameroon, West Africa. He recently researched and wrote a paper for the National Invasive Species Awareness Week meeting in Washington DC on climate change's impact on invasive species dynamics. Last year he organized and facilitated a national nursery industry meeting at the US National Arboretum on the practicality of establishing an invasive species free certification program through an ANLA- HRI grant. For more information, please visit our featured guests section on www.theorganicview.com or go to www.ipetrus.blogspot.com.

With the current economy, most small businesses have been hanging on by a thread. Many have folded instead of looking forward to expansion. Unfortunately, there are no more business loans available and no emergency help on its way. To be a small business owner in this current economy, it is next to impossible. It means relentless effort, putting in 16- 18 hours a day and working 7 days a week. Today, on The Organic View, my guest will be Lisa Rodgers, who also co-founded the PersonalCareTruth.com organization to raise awareness about the scare tactics being used to falsely convince the public that the Safe Cosmetics Act actually has something to do with safety. Lisa will talk about the impact this act will make on her business, Cactus & Ivy, LLC., which sells upscale vegan friendly cosmetics. Considering that this is how she is able to support her family, if this act becomes law, Lisa will join millions of Americans who will unnecessarily be forced out of work due to people in power manipulating the truth to get what they want. Stay tuned!

There is a lot of controversy over the proposed Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010. While some people feel that they must pass something, actually anything, in order to create change in the production of personal care products, others agree that there should be change but not by propaganda and manipulation of the facts. The laws should be based upon truth, ie: scientific facts and not an assortment of opinions with an added hypothesis. This is why there are many companies in an uproar about this proposed legislation. These companies feel that The Safe Cosmetics Act will do absolutely nothing to make personal care products safer but make the wrong people gain more power along with tremendous financial gain. If it passes as written, it may put some of the most eco-friendly small businesses in the cosmetic marketplace out of business. Kristin Cotte is the co-founder of Personal Care Truth. She started this organization because she felt that the wrong information was being disseminated and she decided to take action. The objective of Personal Care Truth is to bring accurate, science backed information on the safety of cosmetics to consumers and industry peers. Kristin also is the President of The Grapeseed Company, which manufactures organic and natural cosmetics utilizing the by-products from vineyards. This not only has tremendous health benefits but is helping to reduce the waste that goes to landfills. Her products are 100% cruelty free, paraben, sulfate, phthalate free and they participate in PETA's Caring Consumer Program. They have a team of willing and able human participants that eagerly test their products. The exception is their Dirty Dog Organics line, which for obvious reasons is tested on dogs. Today, on The Organic View, Kristin will talk about her journey into the cosmetics industry and why she decided to take a stand against a group that she once thought was on the right track. Her story is one you will not want to miss! Stay tuned!

Menstruation has always been an awkward subject for most people. However, society has come a long way. These days, there are ads that make light of women's menstruation that are actually quite amusing. Nevertheless, it is now a subject that has permanently become part of pop culture thanks to Apple's launch of the iPad. Millions of people chuckled at the endless jokes about the ?iTampon revolution.? How liberating! Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that are not widely communicated to women about the dangers of using commercial products to absorb menstrual fluid. In fact, typically all you will find inside a box of pads or tampons is a pamphlet about TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). It is amazing that these chemically-saturated products come directly into contact with a woman's reproductive area and yet there is no pamphlet to illustrate this! In 1989 a British national network television program drew attention to the effects of Dioxin pollution, its major source of production and the part it played in sanitary protection manufacture. The understanding and concern for our ecosystems and environmental pollution created from global industrial nations was a rarity and was left to organizations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth who to most, were considered as a hangover from the 60's and 70's. One of their lifetime members, Susie Hewson, absolutely understood the direction and the consequences of our actions on the planet. Her immediate response was to undertake the development of high quality tampons and pads that were chemical free and safe for the environment. Susie Hewson, CEO of Natracare will be my guest today to discuss the importance of organic feminine hygiene products. Her award winning company, Natracare, has set the standard for organic and natural feminine hygiene since its inception in 1989. It is the World's most sustainable and ethical brand of tampons, pads and liners.

Larry Plesent, the President of Vermont Soap Company will talk about the intricate process of soap making, how to determine your skin type and about his work with making this world a cleaner place! Larry is a writer, philosopher and master soapmaker living in his hand built solar log home in the mountains of Vermont. By day he is CEO and Chief Formulator for Vermont Soapworks in Middlebury, Vermont. Also known as the Soapman, Larry and his Vermont Soap developed the world's first certified organic pet shampoo, shower gel, nontoxic cleaner, spray cleaner and much more. Look for them on Facebook and especially at their website. www.vermontsoap.com

After a tough day, some people are quick to down a shot of alcohol to take ‘the edge' off or will pop a little pill to help them relax. This is not only detrimental to your health but creates a negative pattern of behavior that will inevitably lead to co-dependency issues. Negative patterns of behavior never result in productivity. In fact, they lead to bigger problems such as drug dependency, alcoholism and other forms of self-destructive behavior. When you are grounded emotionally and physically, you are operating at your best and can achieve anything. When the stress is high and there seems to be no end to the madness, it is important to refocus and harness your energy to become centered once again. This is why so many people have had tremendous success with EFT therapy. If you have ever had any kind of acupuncture treatment, etc. this is basically in the same realm only it does not create pain. It actually releases it! When nothing else seems to work and all hope is lost, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) therapy has been proven to be very successful. It does not mask the problem nor create pain. In fact, it does quite the opposite! It releases pain, which is what is truly needed in order to be productive. If more physicians dealt with the actual root of a person's stress, there would be a tremendous decrease in chemical dependency. My guest today is Ms. Lydia Proschinger. Lydia is an expert on EFT and is a practitioner who specializes in working with high profile clientele which includes: celebrities, C-level executives, ex-Pats, and other high net-worth individuals whom she assists in their efforts to maintain an energetic balance, which enables them to achieve maximum efficiency.

Dr. Marla Spivak will be my guest on The Organic View to discuss her work with honey bees and the benefits of propolis to the immune system of honey bees. Dr. Spivak's interest in bees began when she worked for a commercial beekeeper from New Mexico in 1975. She later completed her B.A. in Biology from Humboldt State University in northern California, and her PhD from the University of Kansas, under Dr. Orley ?Chip? Taylor, in 1989. She spent two years in Costa Rica conducting her thesis research on the identification and ecology of Africanized and European honey bees. From 1989-1992 she did post-doctoral research at the Center for Insect Science at the University of Arizona. She began as Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota in 1993. Influenced by Martha Gilliam and Steve Taber from the USDA Bee lab in Tucson, she became interested in hygienic behavior of honey bees. This interest has expanded into studies of ?social immunity?, including the benefits of propolis to the immune system of honey bees.

Veronica Diaz, from Giangrandi Gourmet will be on to talk about how her company renovated an old nunnery and brought back the old world style process of making olive oil into one of the finest gourmet olive oils in the world! Ms. Diaz will talk also about organics from Chile and what extremes producers go through to insure quality.